Taoiseach's first class honour to retired postie 'weatherman'

Micky Gallagher, postman and weather forecaster from Co. Donegal pictured with letters of best wishes on his retirement, including one from Enda Kenny

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has led tributes to weather-forecasting postman Michael Gallagher who has retired from An Post after 48 years service.

The 66-year-old, from Glenfin in Co Donegal, said he enjoyed every single day delivering letters to the people of the Bluestack Mountains.

Michael uses signs of nature picked up from country folk to predict the weather and has written a book on natural remedies and cures for aches and pains.

More than 200 people packed into a bar in Brockagh at the weekend to say farewell to the postman.

In a letter, hand-delivered for the occasion, the Taoiseach recalled: “As my mother was a McGinley from Donegal I was reared on stories such as waiting for the postman to arrive with news from relatives not just in Ireland but spread across the world.

Loyal

“Over your 48 years of loyal service to the Irish postal service you ensured that the people of Donegal received those precious letters ... I am sure they did not thank you for the many bills you delivered but that’s all part of the service.

“You also distinguish yourself in predicting the weather patterns based on your study of nature and I hope you continue to do so,” Mr Kenny wrote.

Father-of-three Michael says he will still try to predict the weather and plans to write his memoirs. He thinks – having studied berries in hedges – it will be a calm autumn ahead with plenty of dry weather.